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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober 20 2009 Joint Meeting with City Council201 A Joint Meeting of the Frederick County Board of Supervisors and Winchester City Council was held on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 5:30 P.M., in the 4 1 Floor Exhibit Hall, Rouss City Hall, 15 N. Cameron Street, Winchester, Virginia. PRESENT Chairman Richard C. Shickle; Vice - Chairman Bill M. Ewing; Charles S. DeHaven, Jr.; ..__ I I Gary W. Dove; Gene E. Fisher; Philip A. Lemieux; and Gary A. Lofton. OTHERS PRESENT John R. Riley, Jr., County Administrator; Jay Tibbs, Deputy County Administrator; Roderick Williams, County Attorney; Tim Welsh, Fire and Rescue Chief, LeeAnna Pyles, Director of Public Safety Communications; Jason Robertson, Parks & Recreation Director; Mike Cline, President of Frederick County Fire & Rescue Association; Perry Silva, Frederick County Fire & Rescue Association; Rusty Sandy, Chairman of the Frederick County Parks & Recreation Commission; Kevin Anderson, Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Unification Subcommittee; Winchester City Council members: President Jeff Buettner; Evan Clark; Art Major; Les Veach; John Willingham; John W. Hill; Milt McInturff, and Mike Butler; Interim City Manager Robert Noe, Assistant City Manager Anne Lewis; City Attorney Anthony I I Williams; Brad Veach, Director of Winchester Parks & Recreation; Frank Wright; Winchester Fire Chief, and Kari Van Diest, Clerk of City Council. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Shickle called the work session to order and distributed a summary of the answers received from the July 21, 2009 joint meeting. He noted that consolidation of Parks & Recreation and Fire and Rescue received the most votes. He went on to say that this evening both bodies would hear presentations from representatives from the Parks & Recreation and Fire & Rescue unification subcommittees. PARKS AND RECREATION Kevin Anderson, Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Unification Subcommittee, reviewed the process his committee went through to determine how consolidation of the parks and recreation departments would occur. He went on to say the group looked at cost effectiveness, but the subcommittee rendered no definitive conclusion. He went on to say the subcommittee did not look at the cost issue, but if consolidation provided better resources for the community then the subcommittee was all for it. Minute Book Number 35 Board of Supervisors Joint Meeting with City Council on 10/20/09 202 Mr. Major stated he would like to see a cost benefit analysis and would also like to figure out what the start up costs of a consolidated department would be. Mr. Clark asked if areas were identified where there would be money savings through economies of scale. Supervisor Fisher asked if there were redundant areas such as staff, equipment, facilities, etc. Mr. Buettner stated that it appeared the citizens already see the two parks and recreation departments as consolidated given the number of citizens from each locality that utilize the various programs. Chairman Shickle stated he would like to see actual usage figures instead of percentages given the size difference between the two departments and localities. Supervisor Lofton stated he would like to see the subcommittee refine the initial report and compile as much information as possible until the two bodies decide there is a need to hire a consultant to provide a more in depth analysis. Mr. Anderson responded that he could work with Mr. Robertson and Mr. Veach to gather the information and he could also contact the members of the subcommittee to see if they would be interested in reconvening. Chairman Shickle stated, whatever the make -up of the reconstituted subcommittee, it should contain one City Council and one Board of Supervisors representative. The consensus of the two bodies was to have a committee made up of Mr. Anderson, Mr. Robertson, Mr. Veach, Mr. Lemieux, Board representative, and Mr. Butler, City Council representative. The two bodies then offered the following suggestions to guide the subcommittee's work: - If the recommended organizational chart is utilized, what is the start up cost? - Will consolidation show improved service? - Will consolidation increase the efficiency of services? - When choosing a pay scale, use the higher scale. Chairman Shickle asked the committee to state any assumptions used to reach their findings. A target date of January /February 2010 was set for the committee to report back to the two bodies. Minute Book Number 35 Board of Supervisors Joint Meeting with City Council on 10/20/09 203 FIRE & RESCUE City of Winchester Fire Chief Frank Wright presented the proposed unification/consolidation of fire and rescue services. Following his report, he noted the subcommittee recommended the emergency communication centers be consolidated even if fire and rescue services were not. Chief Wright briefly discussed a proposed consolidated emergency communications center. At the conclusion of Chief Wright's presentation, Mr. Major stated the two bodies should look at consolidating radio systems because if they could not do that then there was no need to do the rest. Supervisor Fisher stated that he believed a consolidated emergency communications center was a top priority. He asked what it would take to make this work. Mr. Buettner stated we should start with emergency communications then fire and rescue then, down the road, police. Chief Wright advised if consolidation of fire and rescue was pursued the process should be made all inclusive. Chief Welsh agreed with Chief Wright. He went on to say a communications system was needed before we consolidate fire and rescue. A committee consisting of Supervisor Dove, Mayor Liz Minor, Chief Welsh, Chief Wright, and the directors of the two communication centers was established to look into this issue. A deadline of January /February 2010 was set for the committee to report back to the two bodies. The next joint meeting will be held in early January 2010 and the topics of discussion will be parks and recreation and emergency communications. CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU Supervisor Lemieux stated that he had spoken with Convention and Visitors' Bureau Director Natalie Wills and advised there was no longer an operating agreement between the two localities to fund tourism. He went on to say that Ms. Wills would like the two bodies to discuss this item. Minute Book Number 35 Board of Supervisors Joint Meeting with City Council on 10/20/09 204 Administrator Riley advised that was something the Joint Finance Committee needs to discuss. Chairman Shickle asked Mr. Riley to arrange a Joint Finance Committee meeting in the near future. There being no more discussion, the joint meeting was adjourned at 7:11 P.M. l ) � Richard C. Shickle John R. ki Jr. Chairman, Board of Supervisors Clerk, Board of Supervisors Minutes Prepared By: Jay E TilUbs Deputy Clerk, Board of Supervisors Minute Book Number 35 Board of Supervisors Joint Meeting with City Council on 10/20/09